Transform your dorm room with personalized touches

Moving away to college — and into a dorm room or apartment — is a big step.

The room might be too small. You have to share it with a potential stranger. And it’s definitely not your childhood bedroom.

To help make the transition easier, we talked to local interior designers Barbara Tabak of Decorating Den Interiors, Mary Knackstedt of Mary K Interiors and Sharon Gatt of IWS Design Group Inc. on how to make the most of your college bedroom and the small touches that can transform it into a place of your own.

DECORATING DEMANDS

Experiment. Knackstedt said now is the best time to try out new themes and ideas in a room that you might only be in for a year or two. Plan your room around your favorite possessions, but don’t be afraid to invest in a few pieces you want for a long time to come.

Get colorful. Most apartments and colleges won’t let you paint the walls, but Tabak suggests adding color with bedding, pillows and throws. She said a solid pattern for a comforter or quilt is best, as you are left with a wider range of ways to accessorize and accent.

Invest in pillows. Not only will they make your bed — which will often double as your couch — a comfortable place to sit, but they are great for giving friends who come to visit a comfortable place to relax on the floor. Look for durable, washable brands that won’t easily show the dirt, Gatt said.

Let there be light. Many dorms and apartments are not adequately lit, especially for all the studying and working you’ll be doing from this space. To create overhead lighting, Tabak suggests the use of a plug-in pendant where the cord can be swagged over to the wall. Keep your eyes out for inexpensive lamps too, as the lampshades can be redecorated to match your room.

Hit the floor. With season changes and inconsistent heating and cooling in dorms and apartments, it’s a good idea to buy a washable rug that can be used to warm up the floor, Gatt said. Look for a fun pattern or color that adds life into the room.

SPATIAL AWARENESS

Take advantage of unused space. Loft your bed to make room for a desk or futon underneath. Afraid of heights? Opt for bed risers that will give you a few added inches of storage under your bed. Invest in a hanging shoe organizer for your closet or the back of a door to get shoes off the floor. Buy a TV wall mount for your apartment. All are small adjustments, Tabak said, but the result is additional living room.

Be in command. Gatt recommends Command Hooks — available at most local hardware stores — for hanging pictures, posters and other decorations from home. The hooks stick to your walls without removing paint or damaging the walls, which is a requirement of many dorms and apartments. Make sure to buy appropriate sizes for what you’re hanging, so the hooks last longer.

Keep privacy in mind. Heading off to school often means sharing your space with one or more roommates. To make the transition less stressful, Tabak recommends investing in a tri-folding screen that can easily be packed away in a closet. Not only does it create some additional privacy, but it also creates a great place to hang photos, artwork and cards from friends and relatives.

Storage containers are your friends. Whether you opt for the clear plastic bins or the colorful cube storage bins, it’s important to stock up on containers for your apartment or dorm room. The more places you have to keep all of your excess clothes, shoes and other goodies, the cleaner — and more organized — your room will be.

DESIGN AWAY

There are hundreds of online websites and resources ready to help you design the perfect dorm room or apartment. Many even come with handy checklists to make sure you purchase all that you need. A word to the wise though — check with your respective college or landlord, as well as your roommate, to make sure you’re not spending money on furniture or lighting you don’t need.

Some websites also allow you to design your own space in a virtual bedroom or dorm room. Popular for re-creating a look right in front of your eyes, these tools let you purchase your products right there, too.

Pottery Barn Teen has a selection of wall murals that can help turn your average dorm room into a tropical paradise or hard-rock concert. Murals range in size and cost between $80 to $100.

Many local stores, including Bed Bath and Beyond and Target, make shopping checklists that students can use when buying back-to-school goods for the first time. Just be sure to double-check that you’re not buying items you won’t need or have space for.

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